Songstress Tonia Evans Cianciulli Sings Praise for Her Divine Gift with “My Voice Belongs to Him”

Fri Sep 03 2021
Tonia Evans Cianciulli

Many people attribute possessing exceptional talent as a God-given gift, and celebrated Canadian singer Tonia Evans Cianciulli is acknowledging hers with high praise in return on this, her new, original hymn, “My Voice Belongs to Him”.

“My Voice Belongs to Him” is the first single and sole original song from Cianciulli’s upcoming album of classic spirituals, Hymns of the Heart — due out on October 1, 2021. The new album is a personally significant and very meaningful collection for the Toronto-based, Newfoundland-born vocalist.

Experience this beautiful song on YouTube here:

Elton John – Still Standing with new hit single “Cold Heart”

Fri Sep 03, 2021

I can distinctly remembered hearing ‘Your Song’ for the very first time, and now decades later, Elton John has once more released a hit single, keeping himself current with a duet offering with Dua Lipa of “Cold Heart”.

I recently watched the 2019 biopic ‘Rocketman’, the musical documentary of Elton John’s life. Although I will admit I fast-forwarded past the spontaneous song and dance numbers that seemed to erupt from nowhere in the script, I really did learn more about this talented and when he was younger troubled artist.

The Music Industry Starts to Open Up

Fri Sep 03 2021
Peter Åstedt

I am writing this in the airport on my way to Bucharest, Romania to the showcase festival Mastering the Music Business. This is my first live attendance at an event in just over a year and a half and it feels strange to be on a airport again.

I'm really glad to be going and given the opportunity to make it happen. I'm still amazed how the global entertainment industry is still in hard lockdown. While I sit in the terminal you can just see clearly how the politicians just count us as something extra that is not important; the theory being music, especially live music, is just something you can be without and not an essential part of life.  If I would go forward with an event in Sweden right now, I'm only allowed to have 50 people in the audience, seated with 1.5 meters apart, if you serve alcohol. Currently, right in front of me, are at least 80 people crammed in the bar drinking alcohol. If I put a girl with a guitar in there would it suddenly be considered unsafe?

Now we are crammed in a totally full to capacity plane. If I stand up and sang a song would all these people get COVID?

Blues Alt-Country Soft-Rock Duo Fresh Breath Ask 'How Did I Get Here' in New Album

Fri Aug 27 2021
Fresh Breath

Blues alt-country soft-rock duo Fresh Breath are asking How Did I Get Here with the release of this, their new album.

And Fresh Breath is a perfect name for this dynamic duo, KT and Josh, as they truly are a fresh breath of music when there is so much music being released right now that is just not as captivating as this band.

The six-song EP is a culminating reflection of the band’s married members, KT and Josh, and their own relationship stories — from the early days of when the couple first met, to their take on the world navigating isolation, all the way to the darkness they were forced to find in order to keep their own lights shining.

This year’s previously released lead single “World Gone Crazy” covered ground as an alternative protest piece around social injustices and pandemic fatigue, whereas newly unveiled songs “You & Me,” and the album’s title track, “How Did I Get Here,” land as sweetly tender and raw with revelation.

“It’s no secret our world has changed,” Josh marvels, “and when you read through the track list of the album, it pretty much sums up what we went through in 2020.”

The Magic Of A Good Songwriter

Fri Aug 27 2021
Peter Åstedt

This is a story about a new song that I will share with you This message was from an artist I used to work with around ten years ago. “Fun!”, I thought, it’s always fun to see if someone has evolved as an artist, especially in this case since I haven’t really had any contact just followed what he was doing online from time to time.

I took a listen to the link. I can also kill a myth here. Yes, I usually listen to everything I get in. The thing is that I don’t really have time to respond to all things I get in. If something is interesting, I will get back to the artist but just having conversations around stuff that is not interesting is just taking part of my precious time. And most people in the business are doing the same. They listen but rarely have time to answer anything back.

Vince Gill - The Hockey-Loving Okie

Fri Aug 27, 2021

It is hard to fathom that a boy who grew up in Oklahoma City would have much knowledge of hockey, let alone be a passionate fan of the game, but that is the story of Vince Gill, country music superstar now residing in Nashville with his wife, Amy Grant.

Vince has a special affinity for Canada. “Canada accepted me long before the States did as an artist, no matter what I was doing,” he said. “I have always had a fondness for Canada.”

The personable star sat down during the pandemic that put a hiatus on his touring and talked about a myriad of things, including two of his passions: music and hockey.

Kevin: How does a little boy growing up in Oklahoma ever dream about the incredible musical success that you have enjoyed – 22 Grammy Awards, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame?

“First Lady of the Guitar” Liona Boyd Releases Retro-Disco Remix of Instrumental Hit, “Popcorn”

Fri Aug 27 2021
Liona Boyd

Five-time JUNO Award-winning and Gold- and Platinum-selling Canadian ‘First Lady of the Classical Guitar’ Liona Boyd presents her newly minted version of the instrumental hit “Popcorn” in new single, “Popcorn (Remix)” .

Check out “Popcorn (Remix)” on YouTube here:

A vibrant arrangement for classical guitar, complete with a retro disco feel, “Popcorn (Remix)” is certain to get audiences up, and out of their seats dancing.

“This version of ‘Popcorn’ has been several years in the making,” Boyd reveals of the newly reimagined tune. “I’m so happy to finally be sharing both this instrumental song and video!”

Filmed in Toronto, as well as Palm Beach, Florida, the playful and colourful video radiates Boyd’s love of life — all while continuing to highlight her tenured career enthralling millions with her signature romantic spin on classical, folk, and world music.

The Current Threats to the Music Industry

Fri Aug 20 2021
Peter Åstedt

The changes to the music industry are not just the COVID situation. You must consider also climate change as a part of the new industry. Tonight another city in Sweden was flooded and all roads were cut off, the fifth just the past month. And these floodings are nothing  compared to the flooding in Europe or in Chine earlier in the summer. At the same time, there are big fires in Greece and Turkey. Canada and USA had their fires earlier that were also devasting. All these factors will affect the music industry.

BTW - Elton John & Dua Lipa, James Baley, Charles Spearin, The Killers, Jennifer Lauren. ALIVE, Linda Carone

Fri Aug 20 2021
Elton John & Dua Lipa

This week we spotlight ICNA Relief Food Bank 6120 Montevideo Rd. Unit #4
Mississauga, Tel: 905-858-1067
Email: mississaugafb@icnareliefcanada.ca Because of COVID, please contact prior to going.

Support your local food bank. The need is real.

If you liked the Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett singles, here’s a like-minded but a little more contempo effort from Elton John and Dua Lipa, their new collaboration ‘Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)’.

A joyous and blissed-out dance cut, ‘Cold Heart’ sees the pair come together on record for the first time. The seed of the collaboration was planted after Dua invited Elton for an Instagram live, discussing his experiences with Studio 54 ahead of her remix album ‘Club Future Nostalgia.’

Jesse Colin Young – These Dreams of You

Fri Aug 20, 2021

Legendary singer songwriter Jesse Colin Young is set to release his rousing rendition of Van Morrison’s “These Dreams of You” on Friday, August 20. The single, which will be available on all streaming platforms, will be accompanied by a new music video.

I have been a fan and follower of Jesse Colin Young since my early days in radio since the mid-70’s when I had the opportunity to play his solo career albums, with songs like ‘It’s a Lovely Day’, ‘Song for Juli’,  and his amazing medley of Marvin Gaye’s classic ‘What’s Goin’ On/Mercy Mercy Me’ to name  a few.

Americana Singer Jordan Page Encourages Unity with Inspiring New Single, “Hour of Change”

Fri Aug 13 2021
Jordan Page

Recognizing the cultural division in not just his home country, but all over the world, Americana-centric musician Jordan Page has released his latest track, “Hour of Change”.

Crafted for ‘all people of all nations,’ the soulful, electric-acoustic ballad is very much on-brand for the Northport, Washington-based artist. An advocate for equal human rights and general liberty — in not just a musical sense, but in morality too — the inspiring single not only offers a gorgeous variety of chord progressions and soothing vocal melody sure to make arm hairs stand on end, but reflects on current times, celebrating unity in an era plagued by fear and division, too.

This concept is echoed in the song’s touching music video which accompanies it; there, the viewer is met with a montage of shocking news broadcasts, struggling people in poverty, protesters, and frontline healthcare workers who all come together as one, in unity, against corruption and darkness which has shrouded the world for the last few years.

With close to 280,000 views on YouTube check out “Hour of Change” here:

How To Get Good Distribution

Fri Aug 13 2021
Peter Åstedt

I was talking to a friend who is an amateur artist. He has some success in his genre but it’s a hobby for him. During the past weeks, I had this conversation with several artists so I thought of writing a piece around it to explain how the digital distribution is divided and how it works.

My friend had uploaded on a kind of famous site to be shade. This site is very common but for us the professional industry it has a long time being really shady. First of all, you can upload your songs through an app for no cost but most of the cost is hidden so, in reality, it’s not free. My friend knew that but actually bought an upgrade some he became a pro member to get better service to be able to talk to support and get things out in 48 hours.

Jackson Browne My Cleveland Heart

Fri Aug 13, 2021

There’s a trend happening right now in the recording industry that I really like. The legacy artists that have been the soundtrack for some of us for 40 or even 50 years are coming out with new music! And not remakes of their old hits but new, vibrant and current songs. Rodney Crowell with his latest album 'Triage' singing “Something Has To Change”and John Fogerty singing about “Weeping in the Promised Land”. And now most recently the perennial favourite West Coast troubadour Jackson Browne, the latest release “My Cleveland Heart” from the album “Downhill From Everywhere.” Browne’s place in music history was cemented with his brilliant co-write with Glen Frey on "Take It Easy", a song that catapulted Eagles into the stratosphere of superstardom and Browne's breakout solo career song, "Doctor My Eyes".

Multi-Platinum Artists Barney Bentall & Geoffrey Kelly are RanchWriters

Fri Aug 06 2021
RanchWriters

When two multi-Platinum and Gold-selling Canadian artists pass time together the best way they know how, the result is certain to turn ears. And such is the case for award-winning musicians Barney Bentall and Geoffrey Kelly and their newly announced album, RanchWriters — available this Fall via True North Records.

RanchWriters will be released September 17,  2021 but can be pre-ordered:
truenorthrecords.com/ranchwriters/

Beloved around the world for his JUNO Award-winning band, the Legendary Hearts, Barney Bentall went on to release multiple acclaimed albums as a solo artist; most recently, he’s also a part of bluegrass-folk band, The High Bar Gang. And as one of the primary songwriters in Spirit of the West, Geoffrey Kelly is one of the nation’s most lauded Celtic musicians and folk-rockers who has also performed with the Irish Rovers and as one of the Paperboys.

What Level Are You On As An Artist?

Fri Aug 06 2021
Peter Åstedt

I am always amazed at how stupid you can ever be in this business. Just got a message on social media about our festival from a random dude with Hello, and then a link to a page. You can see the page is booking agency. Just by curiosity, I went out there to look. The page holds around a hundred lookalike artists.

First of all, a festival normally is not looking for a look-a-like artist or impersonator. They probably have access to the real deal if the artist is still alive. This is more for cheap weddings, birthday parties  and boat cruises, still usually the standards of these bands are better than this. Obviously, nothing appealing for the festival. I just sent the dude back a link to the application site, the worst thing would be that he applied with a hundred utterly bad look-a-like acts.

Then I directly get a message back, what fee can we get? I just wanted to write back, for real if you pay me 1000 euros, I will consider having mercy on one of your acts. I didn’t of course;  I used the standard answer, I didn’t reply at all.

Emma Rush Both Sides Now

Fri Aug 06, 2021

Take a classic song, play it on a classical guitar and you create the opportunity for magic to happen. And that's exactly what Canadian guitarist Emma Rush has done. Rush took the renowned classic, "Both Sides Now", written by fellow Canadian Joni Mitchell, a version that she is now releasing as her new single.

"I recorded an album called "Canadiana", where I had performed my heartfelt tribute to some of the great Canadian songwriters and performers such as Gordon Lightfoot and Stan Rogers. One song I did not include was an iconic ballad. I had always loved "Both Sides Now", so I thought I'd record it as a single release in a sensitive and melancholy way to interpret the song the way I felt it," Emma Rush explains with the choice of her song. 

BTW- Niz Wiz, Andrea Ramolo, Alice Coltrane, Kampala Social Club, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Jackson Browne, Lorde

Fri Jul 30 2021
Niz Wiz  Photo Credit Kandle

This week we salute the folks behind Beeton Cupboard Foodbank at St. Michaels All Angels Church.611 St. Clair Ave. West. (416) 653-3593. Our outreach program remains a high priority at this time. The Beeton Cupboard Food Bank is an essential service and will continue serving our community on Wednesdays. Steps have been taken to adjust service delivery in line with up-to-date Public Health advice.  Open 11:30am - 12:30pm on Wednesdays

Jade Eagleson and Dean Brody Team Up for New Release “More Drinkin’ than Fishing”

Fri Jul 30 2021
More Drinkin' than Fishin' Jade Eagleson ft Dean Brody

Coming off the success of his second #1 at Canadian country radio, Jade Eagleson has teamed up with celebrated Canadian icon Dean Brody to bring fans what is sure to be the good-time anthem of the year, “More Drinkin’ than Fishin’.” Celebrating the small-town roots that make them two of country music’s favourite voices, the pair feels completely at home in the familiar twang of this fun, light-hearted track about a couple of good ol’ country boys just enjoying some time on the lake.

Being an Artist is Being an Entrepreneur

Fri Jul 30 2021
Peter Åstedt

To be an artist is like running a business. Any business; it’s not anything special just because it’s about music though many want you to believe that. As an artist you will face the same obstacles as any entrepreneur that starts a restaurant or landscaping you name it, you are all in the same boat.

With that in mind, I just can’t understand why people try to make it so magical. If you start a restaurant where the food is mediocre, but you are in a place where a lot of people pass by. Yes, you will make the restaurant  go round. It won’t be famous; people won’t talk about it, but it fulfills its purpose. I guess this will be like a the troubadour in the music industry. Yes, you play at different places, but you play old hits in the corner. Nothing wrong with it but people won’t talk about it in that kind of sense. You get your money but there are thousands of these people playing what people want to hear as entertainment.